Archers outshine Eagles, join three-way tie for lead

MANILA, Philippines - Jeron Teng rifled in 32 points as La Salle clamped down on Kiefer Ravena down the stretch to eke out a hard-earned 88-86 win over Ateneo and force a three-way logjam for the lead in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

The 6-foot-2 Teng fired eight points in the final period, topping off his explosive showing with two free-throws to give the Archers an 87-83 cushion with 8.1 seconds left en route to their sixth straight win for 6-2 card overall.

The Archers not only avenged their 86-97 setback to the Eagles in the first round but also caught up with their arch rivals at the top in the company of Far Eastern U.

The Tams earlier went 6-2 after a 74-70 overtime victory over National U in the curtain raiser. (See related story)

“Very well-fought match between the two sides, which was what was expected,” said DLSU coach Juno Sauler after the latest edition of the DLSU-AdMU rivalry that drew a crowd of 15,915.

Teng outscored the entire Ateneo team in the first quarter, 15-10, and finished with 21 at the turn as Archers enjoyed leads that reached as high as 36-23.

He wasn’t alone, though, as Jason Perkins dished out an 18-point, 10-rebound effort and Julian Sargent and Robert Bolick combined for 21 while taking turns hounding Ravena .

“Jeron made very good reads when the defense adjusted on him in the second half, he involved his teammates. I remember he was doubled early somewhere in midcourt and he just made a pass to Julian,” said Sauler of Teng, who also issued five assists.

Teng made a killing at the stripe, converting 17 of his 20 tries, including six in the fourth that helped DLSU quash Ateneo’s furious rally.

“I just really work on my free throws because I know every game I take lots of freethrows. In order to help the team, I have to make my free throws,” said Teng.

Ravena, the leading MVP candidate, wound up with 22 markers but he missed a triple try and a layup in the stretch.

“We kept changing the matchups with Julian and Robert. Ateneo was moving pick and roll with guards so there will be times Jeron will guard Kiefer, maybe even Almond (Vosotros) few times. The only thing we told them was to challenge his jump shots then hopefully he’ll miss,” said Sauler of his defensive ploy.

“I have to give it to La Salle, they started really well,” said Ateneo coach Bo Perasol, who rued his wards’ slow start. “If we want to win more, we have to set ourselves na hindi kami lagi sa huli nananalo (we can’t afford to just rally all the time and try to win it at the endgame).”

Chris Newsome backstopped Ravena with 15 spiked by a trey that put Ateneo within 86-87 before DLSU’s Vosotros made a split to seal it for the Archers.